NB: as of 23 September 2008, all new artSMart articles are being published on the site news.artsmart.co.za.

CELEBRATION OF LIGHT
(article first published : 2004-05-15)

On May 15 – International Family Day – Pietermaritzburg’s Botanical Gardens will again light up in a bid to help children affected by HIV/AIDS in our city. Held in November last year, the inaugural Celebration of Light was a memorable event which attracted the participation of well over a thousand people, including representatives from groups, companies, schools and institutions and helped to place the festival firmly on the City’s annual calendar.

Building on last year’s success, this year’s Celebration of Light aims to be even bigger and better and offers the people of Pietermaritzburg an opportunity to contribute towards alleviating the suffering of children affected by HIV/AIDS. They will also be able to express their individual creativity in the design of lanterns or other sources of light that will stand out as symbols of hope, commitment and compassion.

The festival, which boasts an exciting programme of dance and music, is also an opportunity to bring together the different communities of Pietermaritzburg, to have a picnic in the gardens, and to celebrate a diversity that lends a richness and distinctiveness to our South African city.

The diverse and exciting entertainment line-up includes Richard Walne & the Burlesque Supergroup from Durban and popular Northdale-based Kwaito Band, Groetas. Also on the programme are Pan, a five-piece Midlands-based band which writes its own material; St Nicholas School Steel Band; Pietermaritzburg’s popular Belly-Dancers; fire-dancers from Durban and local Indian classical dancers.

As before, proceeds will go to CINDI, a Pietermaritzburg based non-profit network that comprises over 80 organisations which have direct links with local communities and in this way are able to make a direct impact on the lives of children and families affected by HIV/Aids (www.cindi.org.za).

Schools, groups, institutions, businesses and members of the public are invited to make lanterns to display in the gardens, or simply bring a picnic basket and join in the evening festivities. Food and sparklers will be on sale at the Festival and children are welcome to attend in fancy dress.

Lanterns can be any shape or size, ranging from very big, to very small, and should use any non-electrical light source -- battery, candle, gas, etc -- which is able to last for about three hours. (No fireworks or firecrackers are permitted.)

Festival-goers are also encouraged to add the following toiletry items to the CINDI bins at the festival: Baby powder, aqueous cream, Vaseline, toilet soap, facecloths, cotton wool, black bin bags, plaster rolls 50 mm, Dettol or Savlon, toothpaste. These will help boost the supply of toiletries used by volunteers during their home-based care visits to HIV-affected families.

Celebration of Light will take place on May 15 between 16h00 and 20h00 in the Botanical Gardens, Pietermaritzburg. More information from Jennie Bowen on 083 284 0109 or Diana Coke on 033 344 2789.